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Basic Design Gives Second Life To Landfill Bound Materials

21 May

Basic-OfficeSpace-MakerlabsVancouver Mini Maker is coming to the PNE Forum this June 6th & 7th.  There will be over 100 exhibitors featuring a host of creative minds.  One of which we really like, Basic Design which works out of the Makerlabs in Strathcona.  Basic Design is a great initiative co-founded by Jesi Carson and Theunis Snyman. Basic Design is actively redefining the value of waste by giving a second life to landfill-bound materials and creating unique, cruelty-free products. The waste materials that Basic Design uses come from unexpected places, including a “leather-like”, black rubber called EPDM. These are materials used on movie sets in the film industry that came in odd shapes and sizes. With the help of an industrial sewing machines and a laser cutter, Basic Design up-cycles this waste into stylish wallets, card holders, bags and more. They hope to make a difference, one product at a time. Basic Design also does custom design projects including furniture and interior design.  They are currently designing and building 100% up-cycled furniture for Lupii Café in Champlain Heights which will be Vancouver’s first zero waste coffee shop which is scheduled to open in June. When working on these projects, they use up-cycled, local and sustainable materials whenever possible. Basic Design firmly “believes that good design is responsible design, and that their clients, customers and planet Earth deserve the extra effort”.

Basic Design will be showcasing their line of up-cycled products at the Vancouver Mini Maker Faire. If you are not able to catch them at the Mini Maker Faire, you can also watch for them at the Eastside Flea, Make It Vancouver or visit their Etsy site. They also have some of their products at Nice Shoes at 3568 Fraser Street. We love what they do.  We will certainly be stopping by and checking out some of their work at the upcoming Mini Maker Faire.

Photo Credit: Basic Design

Basic-BillfoldWallet Basic-MessengerBag Basic-PassportWallet Basic-PhoneFlapWallet2

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Britannia School Garden Fundraiser Saturday May 23 At The Hall

20 May

School Garden FundraiserYou are invited to the 5th Annual Britannia School Garden Fundraiser being held at The Hall at 1739 Venables Street (formerly known as Astorino’s) on May 23. The event will feature a full dinner prepared by the Britannia Culinary Arts Class with the assistance of a chef. There will also be an open bar, silent auction, music and an evening of food storytelling. 100% of the funds raised will pay for gardening materials and tools, seeds, plants, and teaching programs supporting students food growing learning and healthy eating awareness. The funds raised will support 3 exceptional school garden programs.

Britannia School Garden which provides fresh veggies for the school cafeteria and valuable learning opportunities for students in four classes to gain hands-on food growing skills throughout the year.

Sega Girls School Garden in Tanzania, whom Britannia School has twinned and aims to equip its students with home gardening skills essential for every graduate to have to assist with household food security and self-sufficiency.

The Eastside Family Place Little Sprouts program in Britannia Garden engages young tots and their parents in various garden activities, connecting children to food gardens at an early age.

Come out and support this great event. Tickets are available online for $25 at Eventbrite.

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Rescue Me: Denny A Young Tabby Cat Looking For His Forever Home

18 May

Denny2Welcome to the next installment of Rescue Me in which we feature pets waiting for adoption at the Vancouver SPCA. Today we would like to introduce you to Denny. Denny is a 2 year old brown and white tabby.  He came to the Vancouver SPCA Shelter as a stray, abandoned by his owner.  Denny didn’t take well to life in a shelter.  As soon as they found him a foster home though, he started to thrive in a loving home.  Denny currently lives with other foster cats and a dog. He’s a wee bit nervous around the dog, but we hear that he seems to get a little braver each day.  His foster family says that Denny has been a little skittish while adjusting to a new environment, but improving daily and loves affection.  He loves to head butt and will come back to you for frequent pets if you sit down and welcome him.  Denny we hear is also a chatty boy, he likes to tell you about his day. His foster family and friends at the Vancouver SPCA think Denny would not be suited in a home with small children who could easily frighten him.  If you think you could give Denny a forever home, the Vancouver SPCA Shelter, 1205 East 7th Avenue would love to hear from you. They will be happy to connect you with the foster family so you can meet Denny. You can reach the Vancouver SPCA by telephone at 604-879-7721 or by email at vancouver@spca.bc.ca.

UPDATED June 8, 2015 – We are pleased to report Denny has found his forever home.

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Meet The Makers Expo June 13 At The Makers Lab

15 May

MeetTheMakersStrathcona is an area we love. It is a multicultural neighbourhood and home to one of Vancouver’s oldest residential area. Within Strathcona there is much industry and business which is still fuelled by the railway and port, but there is also so much new industry in this area. The Strathcona Business Improvement Association is a very proactive organization that works with the community to develop this area and promote the businesses within it.  This June, they invite you to check out what is actually made in Strathcona in the Meet the Makers Expo.  You will get a chance to see some unique, innovative and delicious businesses through demonstrations, panel discussions, networking and yes tastings. The event will feature restaurants, breweries and cafes including A.G.R.O. Roasters and Yolk’s Breakfast to name but two. On June 13th, you are invited to come down to the MakerLabs at 780 East Cordova Street from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm to meet the makers behind the businesses in Strathcona. This is a free event open to the public.  In order to ear mark your free ticket, visit Eventbrite.

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Social Yoga & Veggies – The Market Series At River District Starting May 30

13 May

socialyoga_marketseriesIf you like yoga and your veggies, the new Market Series by Social Yoga might just be the class for you. On May 30th, The Social Yoga comes to the River District in SE Vancouver along the scenic Fraser River.  They will be offering 8 hours of yoga over a 4 week period starting May 30th  on the outdoor deck of 8683 Kerr Street. Should it ‘happen’ to rain, there is indoor space available. Classes run from 12:30 to 2:30 pm for $160, but the bonus is the price also includes a weekly market bag full of fresh produce from Shady Acre Farm. This is one of the Lower Mainland’s newest urban farms located in Richmond.  If you arrive early, of course you can take in the Farmers Market at River District which starts at 10:00 am. Or you can catch the tail end of the market after class as it runs till 3:00 pm.  Space is limited to 8 participants. Thus, if interested, best sign up early.

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Italian Market At The Italian Cultural Centre Starting May 15

12 May

ItalianMarket2015Il Centro Italian Cultural Centre invites you to their Italian Market starting Friday, May 15th at the Italian Cultural Centre located at 3075 Slocan Street (at Grandview Highway) in East Vancouver. The Night Market will run every 3rd Friday of the month from 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm until Friday, November 2oth. Specifically: June 15th, July 17th, August 21st, September 18th, October 16th and November 20th. The Italian Market aims to bring together the tastes of Italy with produce grown locally including Fresh Roots and Glen Valley Artichoke Farms with artichokes, fresh greens, beans, tomatoes and herbs. Also lined up for the market is Farmhouse Natural Cheeses, Sweet Thea Cakes with fresh pies and baking and Stepping Stone Bakery will have biscotti, cookies and squares. You can also expect to find fresh fruit, vegetables, handmade products by local artisans as well as food prepared by Il Centro’s Chef including house baked breads which will be available for purchase. The Italian Market will also be hosting two local wineries, Kalala Organic Estate Winery and Township 7 Vineyards. And if that isn’t enough to make you come out, they are welcoming back Bella Gelataria who will be selling their gelato and Demiani Fine foods will be on hand with an assortment of pasta sauces, olive oils and balsamic vinegar and Orazio’s Olive Oil will be sampling their products. There will again be an outdoor ‘bistro’ set up where you can sit down and enjoy the food and live Italian music featuring Luigi Tallarico. Have you always wanted to learn a bit of Italian? If so, the first 50 shoppers on Friday, May 15th will receive a coupon for a 10% discount on Italian Language Classes offered at Il Centro. After the Night Market concludes, people are invited to stay for their ‘Serata in Piazza’ where you can dance the night away to live Italian music and enjoy food & refreshments during the summer markets in July and August. Ci vediamo là!

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Vancouver Mini Maker Faire June 6 & 7 At The PNE Forum

11 May

VMMFDiagramVancouver Mini Maker Faire takes place June 6 and 7 at the PNE Forum. What is the Mini Maker Faire? Organizers will tell you it’s the Greatest Show and Tell on Earth. This is a two day family-friendly showcase of invention, creativity and resourcefulness. You will get to see, touch, feel, learn, invent and experience it all first hand. There will be more than 100 exhibits and an amazing selection of workshops and presentations. There truly is something for every age and every interest. What exactly can you expect to find at Vancouver Mini Maker Faire? Well for starters there will be a Dark Matter Zone, a Textile Village, robotic dogs, homegrown drones, interactive art installations and chance to take a spin on an art t-shirt making bike. This event brings together Makers of every type including the City’s tech enthusiasts, crafters, librarians, science clubs, hobbyists, artists and imaginative kids all under one roof for two days.  You know those neat creative people that tinker away in their studios or garages for hours at a time, well now you will find them all in one place and you get to pick their brains about they do and why. Pretty neat if you ask us. So what do you make?  We all make something whether it’s our food, sewing, growing a garden, those cards that you made as a kid for Mother’s Day or that special Valentine. For this year’s Mini Maker Faire, you are invited to come build, craft, teach, hack, invent and learn. The Vancouver Mini Maker Faire encourages you to roll up your sleeve and take part in making something. Advance tickets for this event are now on sale at Mini Maker Faire.   There are rates for youth, students, adults, seniors and family rates, children 4 and younger get in free.  At the door tickets will be also available at the Front Gate on June 6 & 7, 2015.

Would you like the opportunity to win 2 free two day passes to the Vancouver Mini Maker Faire on June 6 & 7?  If so, tell us what you are most interested in seeing at the Mini Maker Faire by:

1.   Emailing us at ILiveInEastVan@gmail.com; OR

2.   Emailing our Facebook Page @ ILiveInEastVan.com

Contest deadline is Monday, May 25th at midnight. One winner will be able to pick up their weekend passes at the VIP/Media Line Up at the PNE Forum.

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Main Street Vinyl Record Fair May 10 At Heritage Hall

8 May

RecordPlayerThe very popular Main Street Vinyl Record Fair  is back this Sunday, May 10th at the Heritage Hall, 3102 Main Street, for a ONE DAY SALE. If you are looking to buy, sell or trade new and/or used vinyl records, this is the place to be. You can expect to find LPs, 45s, 78s, turntables, vintage audio gear, record storage and so much more with over 50 independent vendors. That translates to over 50,000 vinyl records on sale. This is the place to discover rare records and stock up on bargain classics. The Main Street Vinyl Record Fair gets under way at 11:00 am and goes till 5:00 pm. Admission is $4.00 for adults, kids are free.

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Farmers Markets In East Vancouver This Spring & Summer

7 May

BerriesThe warm weather is here and the much beloved markets are gearing up for what’s expected to be another busy spring and summer. This year, you will have lots to choose from as to date, location and time. The first market to get up and running in East Van is the Trout Lake Farmers Market which starts this Saturday May 9th.  We have set out below all the markets happening in East Van over the spring and summer months.

Trout Lake Farmers Market: 9:00 am – 2:00 pm
Every Saturday May 9th – October 24th
Location: North Parking Lot of John Hendry Park at Trout Lake between Templeton and Lakewood south of the 13th Avenue Alley

Main Street Station Farmers Market: 2:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Every Wednesday June 3rd to October 7th
Location: 1100 Block Station Street along Thornton Park across from the VIA Rail Station and near the Main St Skytrain Station

Mount Pleasant Farmers Market: 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
Every Sunday June 14th  – October 11th
Location: Guelph Street between 7th & 8th Avenues (on the paved play area between Mt. Pleasant Elementary and Guelph Park)

River District Farmers Market: 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
Every Saturday May 30th – October 10th
Location: 8683 Kerr Street (at E. Kent Avenue S.)

Italian Night Market: 3:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Every Third Friday of the Month starting May 15th  to November 20th
 Location: Italian Cultural Centre, 3075 Slocan Street

We encourage you to get out and support local.

The Magic of Collaborative Public Art – Monday May 11 at John Oliver Secondary School

5 May

PublicArtSouthHillYou are invited to take part in a visual presentation hosted by Shary Bartlett at John Oliver Secondary School, 530 East 41st Avenue (at Fraser Street) on May 11th.  Witness the power of the arts to create beauty and foster neighbourhood transformation.  Come and be inspired by local artist Shary Bartlett who will  highlight over a decade of multigenerational and multicultural collaborative community arts projects.  For this presentation, residents of South Hill and various artists have come together to create interactive web stories, huge photographic murals, colourful painted walls, street mosaics, sand collages, hand-cranked prints, a fruit and vegetable mandala as well as many other projects.  On May 11th, you are invited to come see the amazing public art that has been created in South Hill.  At the same time, a focus of this presentation is to inspire a new generation of leaders to dream about the art projects that they could lead.

The evening will begin at 7:15 pm with refreshments and an opportunity to connect with other liked minded attendees. Then Shary will lead the presentation  into a guided discussion, during which you can share your ideas about future collaborative art projects.  What do you envision for public art in the community?  How can you help support public art in the community?

The event is scheduled for 7:15 pm – 9:00 pm at John Oliver Secondary School, Room 209.

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